The latest trend in roofing technique is roof insulation. That is treating your roof like an energy efficient part of your home that can be expensive but is well worth the money. Here are a few tips on just exactly what roof insulation is.
As I have mentioned in a previous article, your roof is the unintended neglected portion of your home that everyone takes for granted. Why? Well, it’s easy to do as we don’t live in or on the roof and the only time we come close to looking at the roof is when you drive up your street and pull into the driveway, and even then, we barely notice it.
But, the roof is one of the most important parts of the home. As we all know heat rises and this natural event is not lost on your home either. The heat generated from inside your home rises and over time will cause stress on the roof shingles and decking. Heat from inside your home is the most important contributing factor to ice dams in the winter. We all know what ice dams look like.
Roof insulation is different from ceiling insulation. Ceiling insulation sits on your ceiling in the attic and will prevent heat from rising in the attic in both the summer and the winter. We have all been in hot attics in the summer and a well insulated attic is important. In the summer months the heat from the sun will bake your shingles and eventually will wear them down to the point that they will need to be replaced. Wind, rain, hail and snow will do the same for your shingles.
Insulating the roof is putting batts and reflectors directly affixed to the interior roof deck forcing heat away from the wood decking
and out the vents. There are options for exterior roof insulation by directly laying hard foam insulation to the exterior of the deck and then affixing shingles over the top creating a small space for ventilation.
Insulation slows down the flow of heat and heat can be destructive. The idea is to disperse the heat and force it in a direction that protects out and away from your home. On the inside, the flow of heat is forced up and out of your vents which are placed near the top of your roof. If you have a center ridge vent system installed in your home this is a much more efficient system which is why many home builders and remodelers are choosing center ridge venting over any other.
If you’re in need of a new roof consider adding into your budget the cost of insulation as the benefits are great along with the added luxury of comfort and peace of mind.